by George Sipple, USA TODAY Sports

by George Sipple, USA TODAY Sports

Serxho Guraleci, a senior nose tackle for the Wayne State football team this past season, died while working out Monday morning in Macomb County, Mich. He was 22.

Guraleci (6-0, 308 pounds) started in 25 of 48 games at the Division II school in Detroit and was named second-team all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Atheltic Conference as a senior.

Rick Bye, Guraleci's high school football coach at Sterling Heights Stevenson, was stunned.

"He was just a big, strong kid," Bye said. "Always had a smile on his face."

Bye said Guraleci, who was from Albania, initially struggled in the ninth grade and had to repeat that level. He worked hard to improve his academics and his English over the next few years.

Although Guraleci no longer had eligibility in his senior year of high school, Bye said he continued to improve and was recruited by Wayne State.

As a junior, Guraleci helped the Warriors reach the NCAA Division II championship game for the first time in school history.

"He was so happy about being able to go play in that national championship game," Bye said. "It was probably the highlight of his career.

"Just a sad, sad story, because he's such a great kid. We're all kind of stunned. I can remember the junior high administrators saying he's just a big puppy dog and wants to make sure he does everything right."

Guraleci played in 10 games this season and had career highs in total tackles (41), tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (1.5).

Wayne State football coach Paul Winters said in a statement released by the school that Guraleci's death is a "devastating loss." He said the player was loved by everyone.

Guraleci was pursuing a degree in kinesiology and secondary education at Wayne State.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Guraleci family and the Wayne State football program," coach Matt Mitchell of league rival Grand Valley State said in a statement. "Serxho was a talented player who always gave great effort against Grand Valley and made an impact on the game."